Folding table



H. HOWE FOLDING TABLE Aug. 7, .1928. 1,679,426

Filed June 11,1925 3 Sheets--Smeet 2 www" uw" H4 HOL D Hows v:as

' VPatented ug. 7', UNITED. STATES 1,619,426 PATENT. oFFlCE.

HAROLD HOWE, F ORANGE, yNEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 HOW FOLDING FORNITURE,

' INC., 0F NEW:. YOBX, N. Y., A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

Y FOLDING TABLE.

. 111111111111mmv med :une 11, v1925. Y semi No. 36,325.

v rlfhis invention relates to folding tables, and more particularly to folding tables which are of light construction and adaptable to be folded or collapsed while not in use and may be easily and quickly opened when the occasion necessitates.

.The principal object is to produce a folding table of the class described which is durable and steady .on its feet while atthe lo'same time being of such light construction as to make the burden of :handling it as little 'as possible. y

.Another object resides in providing a leg bracing and brace supporting structure which takes up all of the stress exerted from the legs through their respective braces when the table is in use thereby relieving the vtable top proper from any strain. e

Another. Objectis to simplify the process of opening by having the various legs positively related to one another -so that a force exerted upon any one of them with a tendency to draw it to an open position will automatically be transmitted to the remaining legs. to cause their opening ,to an extent substantially equivalent to that of the leg to which `the force is being exerted.

Another `object is to; so design the bracing for the legs that by the mutual cooperation yof the bracing for each set of legs, any force or pull exerted on one of the legs to open it will be transmitted throu h its own bracing to the bracingof oneo the-other legs to supply an additional force thereto that will materially facilitate the entire operation of opening all of the legs.

Another object is to provide a folding table which willbe 4compactly closed and so maintained when in storage condition-and whose legs will open to their standing position when released -by ,their`ownaction and lock themselves in a most rigid manner.

i Other and incidental objects will be pointed out hereinafter in the follow/ing description of what I now consider to bethe preferred embodiment 'of my invention, and

in the claims and drawings, in which:

. Fig. 1 is a general view indicating the appearance ofthe table when readyfor use.

Fig. 2 is a view from underneath the table with the-legs extended.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, showing the interlying rela- A tion of the bracing members of each pair of Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. '1, showing the locking features which maintainthe legs in their open position.

Flg. 5 1s a View similar to Fig. 1 with the legs 1n their collapsed positions ready, for storage.

Fig. 6 isa sectional view on line 6-1-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 7-7 of Fig. 5, illustratin the compactness of the folded or collapse condition of the table.

Flg. 8 is a detail of the channel member guidlng rail midway between its ends and 1s illustrative of the manner by which the legs are maintaine-drigidly in their open relation. l

Fig. 9 is a detailed view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is another detailed view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 4.

The table in its'open or useful condition, as seen in Fig. 1, consists of' a table top 10 of light and rigid material whose edges fit into notches (Fig. 3) in rectangular frame member 11. This top may have a cloth or other cover, if desired, and it is held in place 1n 1ts frame by any suitable means, such as small nails or clips, not shown. Resting firmly against the under surface' of the top 10 is a channel guiding member 12 'having horizontally extending edges 13 and turned over 'ends forming clips l14 by -which'it is fastened to frame 11. Screws 15 maybe used to secure this fastening.' This channel guiding member not only gives rigidity to frame 11 and supports the center of the table top, but it forms tracks in which racks 16 and 17 travel. The channelis in-v dependent of the table top and is ofsuiicient strength and stiffness to take up` all of the forces exerted by the legs of/the table when -the table is in use. -Mid-way between the ends of this channelmember. is a stud 18 on y which pinion 19 revolves when the legs are i opened and closed. Pinion 19 meshes with both racks 16 and 17 at all times.

Braces 2O and 21 foiI one pair oflegs 22,

23, are fastened together at one end and are pivotally connected with rack 16 by means ofl plate 24 and pin 25, Fig. 9. These joined guiding member. Each of the braoe memi U0 bers 20 and 21v are pivotally connected to ends of braces 20 and 21 also carry a runner` it is folded, as seen in legs 22 and 23 respectively by any suitable means 27, such as bolts, rivets or screws.

Resting against the open side of channel member 12 is a plate 28 held in place by a nut 29 on stud 18 and by two curved portions 30 and 31 which bear lightly against the racks 16 and 17 respective y. Plate 28 has a cut out portion 32 into which plates 24 of the leg braces run and by which they are maintained lfrom lateral displacement when the legs are open. These cut out por tions limit the travel of the free end of the leg braces and may be of any desired length,

but the open position illustrated in Figs.

2, 3 and 4 has been found to give satisfactory results, for the vertical components of the forces transmitted through the braces from the legs when the table is pushed in a direction lengthwise of channel member v12 are neutralized. Therefore, by the centrali.- zation of the points of force application the table top can never be called upon to stand any strain and it will not bulge at its center. Completely covering plate 28 is a latch plate 33 pivoted about stud 18Jand continually urged' counter-clockwise Fig.` 5 by spring 34. In its normal position lthis latch is maintained from rotation by means of legs 35 which extend therefrom over the outside edge of channel'member 12. This latch has two noses having sloping edges 36 by which it is rocked by plates 24 at the ends of racks 16 and 17 when they approach each other in preparing the table for use. The resistance oli'ered by spring 34 when plates 24 encounter the sloplnv edges 36, serves to cushion the opening eort of the legs and thereby eliminate jar and noise. Upstanding edges 37 are provided for rotating the latch member when it is desired to release the latch from locking relation to free plates 24 in order that the legs may be folded.

Legs 22 and y23 are set into or are at tached to a cross-piece 38 'which is pivoted along its inner edge and at its ends to frame 11 by means of pins 39 and 39. In the present embodiment these pins are each fastened to the cross-piece byv means of a plate integral therewith and they rotate in sockets or bearings in the frame, but a reverse relation could be used with the plates fastened to the frame without entailing any changejn my concept or' invention.

Leg 22 is situated close to a corner so that it will lay along one ed e of frame 11 when ig. 5. Leg 23 is a short distance away from its corner in order to allow le 40 op osite it space between itself and the rame w en the table is closed.4

Legs 40 and 41 and cross-piece 42 are mounted and placed on their side of the table similar to legs 22 and 23 and cross piece 38, so that both pair of legs assume a close'and compact relation when the table is closed, as clearly shown in 5, 6 and 7 -slidin v ess cfg Braces 43 and 44 for legs 40 and 41, respectively, are connected to rack 17 1n a manner similar to the connection of braces 20 and 21 with rack 16, and they are identical in construction and shape to braces 2O and 21, respectively. Legs 22 and 40 have cut-out portions 45, that may be of suflicient depth to accommodate the outer ends of braces 2O and 43, respectivelgr and the pivot screws 27 are placed preera ly near the outer edge of the legs, as are also the pivot screws 27 in legs 23 and 41 for braces 21 and 44, respectively. The advantage of this arrangement is readily apparent-` from an inspection of Figs. 6 and 7, which show that the angle described by the table top and a line drawn through pivot points 25 and 27 is of maximum ma 'tude for the size of table illustrated. o further aid in opening the table, braces 20 and 43I are placed underneath braces 44 and 21, respectively, so that when any one of the legs is raised the legs on the other side ofthe table will have an additive prying force applied to them through the contact of the braces, and the procopening the table is rendered more easy.

l. When the table is fully opened the braces are in close contact, as seen in Fig. 3, and this creates a very stable condition.

The two pairs of braces 'are positively connected by. means of their racks 16, 17 and pinion 19 so that any movement of one pair of legs will produce a corresponding movement ofthe other pair ofA legs. While this is a desirable result, it is obvious that similar correspondin movements would be roduced if the rac s were merely lain slides instead of'toothed slides, for e cooperative relation of the braces would produce substantially the'same results.

When the legs are vclosed as shown in Fig. 5, lthey are locked from displacement by means of a latch 46 which has a 47 that bears against plate 24. 1s pivoted on a lug 48v and may be moved out of the ath of 49. T is rod as two collars fixed thereto and a spring 50 serves to continuall urge the latch .into latching position. o prepare the table for use, it is only necessary to hold it in a position with its legs4 on the under side and press on button 51 and the legs will immediately be released and assume the position shown in Fig. 4 and be then locked by latch 33. v

Springs, such as those desi ated by numeral 52, may be provided to he p accelerate the o ning of the legs lif such expedient is thoug t useful, and Afor the purpose of rplilojection y is latch plate 24 by depression of rod Simplicity I have chosen to illustrate such otally connected with one'of each of the convenience and may be varied to suit the aesthetic orpractical requirements of thetrade, but the proportions illustrated have been found to give satisfactory results and to allow people to sit closev to the edge of the table without interference with the leg braces. In this respect as well as in many others my invention is capable of a wide variation and relationship of parts without departure from the nature and principle thereof and I do not restrict myself unessentially in the foregoing or other particulars, butl contemplate r such alterations and modifications within the scope of theappended claims as may be found advisable. 1 What I claim is 1. A folding table comprising in combination, a table top a frame for said table top, legs adapted to fold within said frame, guiding means, racks guided by'said guiding means, braces pivotally'connected with said legs and with said racks, and a pinion engaging said racks so that the movement of all of the braces will be substantially of th same magnitude. y 2. A folding table comprising incombination, a table top, a frame for supportinosaid top, a pair of legs on opposite sides of said table, means at theirupper ends `for pivotally supporting said legs, a brace for each pair of legs, each brace having two members at an angle to each -other and joined at their free'ends with their otheriends pivotally connected with the legs of their respective pair of. legs, each member being of such length as to extend to the side of the center of the table opposite its associated leg when the legs are extended, a rack pivotally connected to each brace, means to guide said racks in sliding relation, and a pinion meshing with both of said racks.

3. A folding table comprising in combination, a table top, a frame for supporting said top, a pair of legs on opposite sides of sa1d table, means at their upper ends for pivotally supporting said legs, a brace for each pair of legs, each brace having two members at an angle to each other and joined at their free ends with their other ends pivotally connected with the legs of their respective pair of legs, a rack pivotally connectedto each brace, means to guide said racks in sliding relation, a pinion meshing with both of said racks, and a latch to prevent movement of said racks in any direction when the legs are in definite position. g

v4. A foldingtable comprising in combination, a table top, a frame forsupporting saidl top, a pair of legs on opposite sldes of said table, means at their upper ends for pivotally supporting said legs, a brace havlng two rods joined together at their free ends and having one of each of their other ends pivegs of a single pair of legs, another brace for i said other pair of legs one rod of which passes under one of the rods of said first mentioned brace andthe other rod of which passes over the other rod of said first mentioned brace, a sliding member pivotally connected to one of said braces, another sliding member pivotally connected to the other of said braces, and means intermediate saidv two sliding members permitting equal movement of said sliding members.

5. A folding table comprising in combination, a table top, a frame for supporting said for guiding saidslides to allow the pairs of legs and the angular braces to be folded within the confines of the frame of the table substantially as described.

6. A folding table comprising in combination, a table top, a frame for supporting `said top, a pair oficollapsible legs, another pair of collapsible legs, an angular brace having two members pivotally connected with said first pair of legs, a\secondangular brace having two members pivotally connected with said Asecond pair of legs, one of lthe members of -the second brace overlying one of the members of the first brace andv the other member of the second brace underlying the. other member of the first brace, a rack pivotally connected to said first brace, a second rack pivotally connected to said second brace, a pinion engaging .both of said racks, and a guiding member forguiding said racks in sliding relation to each other to permit the braces to be folded closey to said table top.

7. A folding table comprising Vin combination, a table top, a framefor'supporting said top, a pair of collapsible legs, another pair of collapsible legs, an angular brace having two members pivotally` connected with said first pair of legs, a second angular brace having two members pivotally connected with saidsecond pairof legs, one of the members of the secondl brace overlying one of the members of thevfirst braceandfthe other member of. the second brace. under- 25 lying the other member offthe first brace, a rack pivotally connected to said first brace, a second rack pivotally connected to 'said second brace, a pinion engaging both of said racks, a guiding member for guiding said racks in sliding relation to each other to permit the braces to be folded close to said table top, and a latch for locking said braces in folded position.

8. A folding table comprising in combination, a table top, a frame for supporting said top, a pair of collapsible legs interconnected by a cross-piece, another pair of collapsible legs interconnected by a cross-piece, an angular brace having twoy members pivotally connected with said first pair of le s, a second angular brace having two mem ers pivotally connected with said second pair of legs, one of the members of the second brace overlying one of the members of the first brace and the other member of the second brace underlying the other member of the first brace, a slide connected to said first brace, a second slide connected to' said second brace, and a channel member at right angles to said cross-pieces and located at the center line of the table for guiding said slides when the legsare permitted to be collapsed. 9. A folding table comprising in combination, a table top, a frame for supporting said table top, legs adapted to fold within said frame, guiding means independent of said table top, sliding members adapted to slide in said guiding means, leg braces, each having pivotal connection'with one of said sliding members, and a latch member adapted to resilientl absorb the opening effort of said legs an braces just prior to the legs reaching their open position.

' 10. A folding table comprising in combination, a table top, av pair of legs on opposite sides of the table, means for pivotally mounting said legs so-as to permit placing them substantially parallel to said top, a

brace for each of sald legs, a.l sliding mem- A ber for each pair of legs, each sliding member being connected by two of saidbraces` to its respectivepair of legs, and guiding means for guiding said sliding members away fromeach other when the legs are closed and toward each other when the legs are opened.

11. A folding table comprising in combination, a table top, a pair of legs on opposite sides of the table, means for pivotally supportin said legs, a brace connected toeach of saidllegs, the two of said braces connected to respective pair of legs being A joined, two sliding members, one for each l pair of braces and each being pivotally connected to said respective pair of braces, means for communicating thelmotion ofA one of said sliding members to the other one of said sliding members, said means comprisin a pinion and guide rails supportedy beneat the table top, and means aty the midportion of said rails for locking said joined ends of said braces in close proximity to each other when the legs of the table are in extended sition.

12. A folding table, comprising in combination, a ta'ble top, legs adapted to fold close tosaid top, two racks, a pinion yengaging both of said racks, guides for said racks, a brace pivotally secured to each of said legs, two braces lfor one pair of legs being connected to one of said .racks and two braces for the other pair of l@ being con-y nected to the other of said racks, and means to lock said two racks in fixed position when said legs are in open position.

18. A folding table comprising, in combination, a table top, legs adapted to fold toward said table top, a guiding channel eX- tending beneath the central portion of said table top and parallel to the plane in which one of the legs fold, sliding members conlined by said guiding channel during a sliding movement thereof, braces pivotally connected to said legs and to said sliding members, one set of said lbraces extending from one sliding member to a pair of legs and another set of said braces extending from another sliding member to another pair of legs, the major portion of each of the sliding members being confined when the legs are folded by a ortion of the length of said guiding channe lying beyond the center of the table top and in the half of the table top opposite the half of the table top nearest the pair of legs with which it is directlyl connected by associated braces, and means associated with said sliding members for 'transmitting the motion of one set of braces to the-other set of braces.

- 14. A folding table com rising in combination, a table top, legs a apted to fold toward said table top, braces pivotally connected ,to said legs and having the free ends of each set of said braces extending opposite the center of the table top in respect to the position of its associated legs when the4 legs are unfolded and away from the table top, a member. pivotally connected to one set of braces and another member pivotally connected to another set of braces, a guiding channel for said members, and a latch disposed intermediate the paths of travel of said members whereb both of saidI members ma be held immov le by said latch when sai -legs are unfolded to their extended positions. .v

In testimony whereof I hereto aiiix my signature.

f HAROLD HOWE. 

